Mon, Apr 27, 2020
5G May Have A Strong and Negative Impact on Aviation GPS
Thanks to a tip from EAA, we've learned that Lightsquared is back... under a new name. That's right -- An old nemesis to aviation GPS signal integrity made a new appearance this month as a satellite company named Ligado advanced its 5G wireless plan with an approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
The company, formerly known as LightSquared, is pushing for permission to begin terrestrial 5G cellular and data service on frequencies it owns that were intended for satellite use. The proposal has caused divisions among government agencies as well as major corporations. It is similar to the plan the company brought forward in 2012, which faced major opposition before being rejected by the FCC. Recently, the FCC reversed its position and approved the Ligado proposal.
Commercial and general aviation interests are both opposed to the new plan, as it could cause interference with GPS signals increasingly relied upon for air traffic separation and aircraft navigation, including precision and nonprecision instrument approaches. The Department of Defense has also come out strongly against the proposal as a technology that could cost billions of dollars to replace GPS equipment in military aircraft.
"It seems very odd that at the same time that the FAA is increasingly relying on GPS technology for everything from ADS-B and NextGen to tracking unmanned aerial systems in the national airspace, another government agency would approve a plan that would degrade that technology and make aviation less safe," said Sean Elliott, EAA's vice president of advocacy and safety.
"It was a bad proposal a decade ago, and it remains so."
Supporters of the plan, which include some of the country's largest telecommunications conglomerates and some White House advisers, maintain that the plan is needed to fully integrate 5G technology throughout the country, including such innovations as driverless cars and smart-home technology.
EAA has noted that it remains adamantly opposed to inappropriate frequency spectrum allocation and use that could degrade the accuracy or integrity of GPS signals that have become integral to the utility and safety of the national airspace system.
More News
Inversion to Launch Reentry Vehicle Demonstrator Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 This fall, the aerospace startup Inversion is set to launch its Ray reentry demonstrator capsule aboard Spac>[...]
"We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future. The agreement with magniX underscores our commitmen>[...]
"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]
Aero Linx: OX5 Aviation Pioneers Each year a national reunion of OX5 Aviation Pioneers is hosted by one of the Wings in the organization. The reunions attract much attention as man>[...]
"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]